I've just gone to take some cash out of an ATM (Cash Machine) in Seattle. I visited about half a dozen in the end, and every single one wanted to charge me an extra fee (typically about $3) for the cash withdrawl on my (non-US) card. This was at bank ATMs in the centre of town, at their branches, rather than in a supermarket or somewhere.

In the end I had to give up and let one of them charge me (I needed cash!), but it was both unexpected and rather annoying. Having gone to the trouble of getting a card that wasn't going to charge me lots to use it abroad, I'm instead hit with fees from the owner of the cash machine.

Was I really unlucky to only find ATMs that wanted to charge me as a foreign user, or do all American ATMs do that? And if only some do, what banks should I be trying to find to avoid being hit with the fee?

If you travel a bit, consider getting a basic account with one of the global banks, e.g. Citibank or HSBC. If you have one of their cards, you can generally withdraw cash fee-free (except maybe a conversion fee) at any of their ATMs worldwide.
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SamApr 27 '14 at 3:25

The trouble is that their conversion fees can be quite poor, while the card I want to use has no fees and no spread on it. Withdrawing a few hundred dollars, I'd be better off paying a few dollars in fees rather than use a Citibank card with a 3-4% spread!
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GagravarrApr 27 '14 at 9:13

8 Answers
8

Try a credit union. Many of them boast surcharge-free ATMs. Lots of smaller banks don't collect surcharges either. Those that don't often will have a big sign saying so near the ATM. The Credit Union National Association, the Independent Community Bankers Association and The Co-Op Network all have ATM locators on their Web sites.

Ask for cash-back when you use your ATM card at a grocery store. This service is free at many stores.

If you're going through San Francisco, residents recently voted to ban ATM fees. So grab some cash while you're there ;)

I also suggest withdrawing as much money as you can at once (without withdrawing more than you'll need), so you are hit with fewer fees. This is advice I follow religiously, as I use a US bank account, and withdraw money at Mexican ATMs--and have not found any with no fees!
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FlimzyOct 31 '11 at 7:21

2

+1 for the grocery store idea... but, when in america do as the americans do => use credit ;)
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rs79Oct 31 '11 at 13:01

In the case of Mexico I think there is a tax or some other kind of government fee on ATMs which cannot be avoided.
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hippietrailNov 3 '11 at 7:30

I would be very surprised if you managed to find an ATM that did not charge you a fee. US card holders are also charged fees if we use an ATM that is not the same bank as our card. Then we usually get a fee from both banks: the ATM's and our bank (for not using one of their ATMs). Some non-US banks that branches in the US; I think that would be the only possibility to avoid a fee.

Some European airports provide ATM machines that will give you USD. Personally I have seen them in Frankfurt and Manchester. Just grab some dollars before going to the US and pay the rest with your credit card. Last time I went, I survived on $20 in cash.

I thought that most of these issued USD, but charged you in EUR or GBP at their own exchange rate (which normally isn't very favourable)?
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GagravarrOct 31 '11 at 5:28

I only used it once, and then I didn't notice any difference. Then again, I only took $20 to have emergency cash, so their own exchange rate is still less then the excessive fee's some american banks ask.
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andraOct 31 '11 at 8:08

Amsterdam has them as well, both before and after customs. @Gagravarr most I know will charge you the same rate as you'd be charged withdrawing foreign currency at an exchange desk for that same bank when using an ATM card, interbank rate+service fee for using a credit card, just like when withdrawing the local currency.
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jwentingSep 13 '13 at 5:57

+1 for this idea, Kuwait also has them at the airport.
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Burhan KhalidDec 31 '14 at 5:14

You may have to look for ATMs that don't charge you fee for withdrawing money but your bank may charge you nontheless. You should probably look for signs that state that there are no surcharge/fees on the ATMs but for example convinience store chain Wawa offers no surcharge ATM in their stores these are provided by PNC bank. And so on and so forth.

McDonalds had ATMs that charge $1 for withdrawals (that's a year old).

There is also a matter of cash network membership for the bank for example a friend of mine was able to withdraw fee free using a Master Card but another friend with a VISA wasn't able to do the same at the same ATM.

If you are in the UK you have several options, Barlcays customers are part of an ATM global alliance which includes Bank of America you still pay a 2.99% Non-Sterling Transaction Fee but you don’t have to pay the £1.50 Non-Sterling Cash Fee. If you are lucky enough to have one of the few fee free or low cost cards such as Norwich and Peterborough then your best bet is to look for a credit union or one of the few banks that don't charge however I admit they are very difficult to find. Another option would be to avoid the fees and get cashback (although do check that your bank does not have a high purchase fee.) Finally you could use Western Union and send money to yourself, if you send online there is no fee (bank transfers only) and you have up to 14 days to collect the money. I use online banking to send myself more money if needed and I avoid having to take out a large sum at once. The exchange rates are competitive and can often work out cheaper when balanced against card fees.

That global alliance also has BNPParibas and Deutsche Bank as a member. As stated, you won't be charged the ATM charge, but of course still your bank's international withdrawal charges. The exchange rates you get within this alliance are normally very good (quite close to, if not even, the interbank rate).
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Max WyssDec 31 '14 at 11:57